I will contest presidential elections: Sangma

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma Friday said that he will contest the presidential elections and had got support from many political parties.

"I will be contesting. As of now I am a candidate sponsored by two chief ministers and I am still in the race," the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader told CNN-IBN. Interestingly, the NCP, a part of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA), has not backed Sangma.

Asked whether he would withdraw his candidature if NCP chief Sharad Pawar asked him to, Sangma said: "No... I have committed to people supporting me."

Discussing the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) naming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a presidential candidate, Sangma said: "It is an internal matter of the UPA and I don't want to comment... I am not part of UPA. I am an MLA in Meghlaya where NCP is in opposition."

Sangma said he has the support of several political parties.

"Political parties supporting me will declare their support after UPA finalises its candidate," he added.